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Background During the COVID-19 pandemic, in-person research assessments needed to be adapted to ensure safety of participants and staff. Participants' willingness to participate in research activities, how to prepare assessors to ensure data integrity, and the feasibility of modified protocols, were unknown. Within the AMPLIFI randomized clinical trial (RCT) for cancer survivors, we elicited participants' preferences and willingness to participate in Clinic, Home, or Virtual assessments, prepared assessors for, and implemented virtual assessments. Methods 1) We conducted phone surveys of potential AMPLIFI participants; 2) Based on survey results, we modified assessments from in-person to virtual visits (VV) by videoconference. Assessors were trained and certified, i.e., assessors recorded 3 assessments that were reviewed and scored by 2 investigators. The modified protocol was proposed to 62 participants: we report numbers of those who agreed to attend VV. Results 1) Survey results: Among 74 survey respondents, 44.6% preferred, 75.7% were willing to attend Clinic Visits; 32.4% preferred, 83.8% were willing to do VV; 23% preferred, 77% were willing to do Home Visits. Survivors 70+ were less likely than 50-69 years old to be willing to do VV: no other differences were noted by gender, race, rural status or education. 2) Assessment uptake: 66.1% agreed to attend VV, and of them 75.6% completed them. Conclusion Diverse research participants adapted to protocols that prioritize their safety, although older participants may be reluctant to do virtual assessments. Virtual assessments are feasible and research teams can rigorously prepare to collect quality data through them., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background Daily self-weighing (DSW) may be an effective harm-reduction intervention to disrupt continued weight gain. Self-Weighing for Obesity Management in Primary Care (SWOP) is a 24-month randomized controlled trial in 400 adults with obesity (BMI: kg/m 2 ≥ 30) receiving primary care through a clinical network affiliated with an academic medical center. Objective To test DSW as a potentially scalable way to deter age-related weight gain among primary care patients with obesity. Methods Randomized-controlled trial with two conditions: DSW (instruction to weigh daily and provision of a web-enabled digital scale with graphical weight feedback) or Standard Care (receive a monetary gift card equivalent to value of the scale). Both groups receive standardized weight management educational material. SWOP will test the causal effect of assignment to DSW (Aim 1) and adherence to DSW (Aim 2) on weight (primary outcome) and adoption of weight management practices (secondary outcomes), as well as evaluate the cost-effectiveness of DSW compared to standard care (Aim 3). Findings may inform clinical guidelines for weight management by providing evidence that DSW attenuates continued age-related weight gain among adults with obesity. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04044794)., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: With the increasing prevalence of childhood obesity, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has emerged as the most common cause of pediatric chronic liver disorder. Factors underlying the pathophysiology of NAFLD remain poorly defined., Objective: This study aimed to describe the metabolic characteristics of children with NAFLD differing in race/ethnicity and to test associations between dyslipidemia and NAFLD., Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted at a tertiary referral university hospital among 309 children with a diagnosis of NAFLD., Results: Participants (mean age 12.5 ± 3.4 years) were 64% male, 63% white, 23% Hispanic, and 14% black. Hispanic children were diagnosed with NAFLD at a significantly younger age (10.6 ± 3.1 years, P < .0001) and lower body mass index (31.5 ± 6.8 kg/m 2 , P < .0001) than their white and black counterparts. For the entire cohort, prevalence of systolic hypertension was 41%, diabetes 14%, elevated cholesterol 42%, elevated non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-C) 58%, elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol 36%, elevated triglycerides (TG) 88%, and low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol 77%. Whites had elevated non-HDL-C, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and TG compared to blacks or Hispanics. Serum TG and non-HDL-C were significantly correlated to alanine aminotransferase (r = 0.18, P = .01; r = 0.16, P = .02), respectively, and persisted after adjusting for age and body mass index., Conclusion: Cardiometabolic derangements, especially dyslipidemia, are highly prevalent in children with NAFLD and differ based on race/ethnicity. Serum TG and non-HDL-C may play an important role in the pathophysiology of pediatric NAFLD., (Copyright © 2018 National Lipid Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common liver disorder among children in the developed world and can progress to cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, and liver failure. No evidence-based dietary guidelines exist on the most effective diet prescription to treat NAFLD., Objective: To compare the effect of a carbohydrate (CHO)-restricted diet vs fat-restricted diet, the current standard of care, on changes in hepatic fat infiltration, body composition, and metabolic health over an 8-week period among overweight and obese children diagnosed with NAFLD., Methods: In this two-arm, parallel design randomized controlled trial (RCT), 40 participants aged 9 to 18 years were randomized to a CHO restricted diet (<25:>50:25% daily calories from CHO: fat: protein) or control, fat restricted diet (55,20:25% daily calories from CHO: fat: protein). This family-based diet intervention included: (1) a 2-week supply of groceries to feed a four-person household specific to the assigned diet; and (2) extensive education on diet implementation through biweekly, diet-specific group and individualized counseling sessions with participants and one parent or guardian led by a registered dietitian (RD). The primary outcome measure of this study was hepatic lipid, measured using magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). Secondary outcomes included liver transaminases; markers of inflammation (hsCRP, IL-6, TNF-α); body composition; visceral adipose tissue; and insulin resistance. All testing was conducted at baseline and week 8; hepatic transaminases were also measured at weeks 2 and 4. This RCT is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (ID: NCT02787668)., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To estimate the association between body mass index (BMI: kg/m2) and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) cancer screening in a nationally representative sample of US men aged 50 years and older using data from the 2001 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey., Respondents: Men aged 50 years or older classified by BMI as healthy weight range (18.5-24.9), overweight (25-29.9), obese class I (30-34.9), obese class II (35-39.9), and obese class III (> or =40)., Outcome Measures: Interval since most recent screening for PSA., Results: Adjusting for age, race, smoking, education, employment, income and health insurance status, we found that, compared with men in the healthy weight range, men in the overweight [odds ratio (OR)=1.13; 95% confidence interval (95% CI)=1.04-1.35], obese class I (OR=1.26; 95% CI=1.06-1.36) and obese class II (OR=1.14, 95% CI=1.02-1.26) categories were significantly more likely to have obtained a PSA test within the previous year. A similar pattern was observed when we examined other screening intervals (e.g. within past 2 years, within past 3 years, etc.)., Conclusions: Among men aged 50 years and older, overweight and obesity is associated with obtaining a PSA test.